Snow melting flusher



- July 7, 1 931.

c. D. CHASE snow MELTING FLUSHER Filed Oct. 19, 1927 Patented July 7,1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CURTIS D. CHASE, OF ALSION,MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO CHASE HOLDING COR- PORATION, A CORPORATION OFPENNSYLVANIA SNOW MELTIN'G FLUSHER Application filed October 19, 1927.Serial No. 227,341.

This invention relates to flushing apparatus, and more particularly toapparatus designed for flushing snow, ice and sleet from streets andthoroughfares.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a highlyeflicient apparatus of the above general character for easily andrapidly melting and flushing snow from streets and sidewalks.

A further object is to provide a compact, portable and self-containedapparatus which may be conveniently connected to a hydrant or othersource of water supply, preferably under pressure, for melting andflushing snow.

A further object is to provide a relatively simple and inexpensiveapparatus of the above general character which will be safe to handleand operate.

Other objects will be in part obvious from the annexed drawings and inpart hereinafter indicated in connection therewith by the followinganalysis of this invention.

This invention accordingly consists in the features of construction,combination of parts and in the unique relation of the members and inthe relative proportioning and dispositioning thereof, all as morecompletely outlined herein.

To enable others skilled in the art to fully comprehend the underlyingfeatures thereof that they may embody the same by the numerousmodifications in structure and relation contemplated by this invention,drawings depicting a preferred form of the invention have been annexedas part of this disclosure, and in such drawings, like characters ofreference denote corresponding parts throughout all of the views, inwhich-- Fig. 1 is a general side elevation of the complete apparatusshowing the manner in which it may be used;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation, partly in section; and

Fig. 3 is a detail plan view showing one of the connections.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, 5 indicates a supporting frameor truck preferably mounted upon wheels 6, whereby the apparatus may bemost conveniently moved from one point to another. This form of supportis merely diagrammatically shown and while adapted to be pulled by atractor by means of tongue connection 7 therewith, it is to beunderstood that without departure from the scope of the invention, theentire mechanism hereinafter described may be mounted directly upon amotor truck. This supporting frame 5 carries a main heating apparatuswhich consists preferably of a cylindrical tank 8 provided at one endwith a source of heat 10 herein illustrated as comprising a conventionalfuel oil burner 11. Above the main tank or heating chamber 8 is mounteda fuel oil tank 12 and a compressed air tank 13, if the burner is ofthat type using a mixture of fuel oil and air, as is general practice,these tanks being connected to the burner by means of suitable piping 14provided with control valves as and where necessary. The axes of thetanks 12 and 13 eX- tend parallel to the axis of the tank or heatingchamber 8 whereby a compact arrange ment results.

The interior of the heating chamber 8 is preferably provided withcontinuously ascending coils 15, each in substantially semicylindricalform to follow the periphery of the chamber 8, and each having its lowerend connected with a Y-shaped coupling 16 adapted to be connected in anydesired manner with hose 17 leading to a hydrant or other suitablesource of water supply 18. The water passing rapidly thru the coils 15and gradually ascending to the top of the chamber 8 joins a similarY-shaped coupling leading to anoutlet 20 at the front end of thechamber, whereby the heated water from the coils 15 is united in acommonstream. This outlet 20 may be provided with a plurality ofindividually controlled outlet taps 21 adapted to be connected to one ormore hose 22, each provided with a nozzle 23. From the above, it will beseen that burner 11 projects its flame well into the interior of thechamber 8 and heats the coil 15 to a relatively high degree. The waterpassing in at the bottom and out thru the top is progressively heated,and as it becomes heated naturally rises so there is no counter or backpressure, and when tapped off is nearly at the boiling point wherebywhen the stream from the nozzle 23 is directed against snow or ice, thesame is quickly melted and passes off into a sewer. A stack 24 isprovided for the exhaust product-s of combustion.

The use and operation of the device may be briefly stated as follows.The heating plant or unit is moved either under its own power or by asuitable tractor to the hydrant 1S and coupled thereto. l/Vater isadmitted to the coil 15, and the burner 11 is lighted, the blast flamequickly heating the tubes and the water contained therein. As soon asthe coil is thoroughly heated, the discharge control valves 21 areopened and the streams from the nozzles 23 directed where they willaccomplish the best results.

It is thus seen that the present invention is of a simple and practicalnature having relatively few parts which may be inexpensivelymanufactured and installed, and by which the snow and ice will be mostrapidly and eiiiciently melted and flushed clear from the streets.

lVithout further analysis the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofthis invention that others can by applying current knowledge readilyadapt it for various applications without omitting certain featuresthat, from the standpoint of the prior art, fairly constitute essentialcharacteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention,and therefore such adaptations should and are intended to becomprehended within the meaning and range of equivalency of thefollowing claim.

I claim:

In an apparatus of the character described,

a portable support, a horizontally disposed cylindrical heating chambermounted thereon having a centrally and axially disposed oil burner forheating the same, fuel and compressed air reservoirs carried by saidframe with their axes extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of theheating chamber, coil sections each of substantially semi-cylindricalformation and mounted in said chamber about the interior peripherythereof and comprising tubes connected by reverse bends thru which waterunder pressure is adapted to be passed, inlets to and outlets from saidcoil sections, a coupling common to said inlets, a flexible line from anunlimited source of water under pressure to said coupling, and acoupling common to said outlets and connected to an outlet nozzlewhereby the water heated in said coil sections may be discharged.

Signed at Washington, District of Columbia, this 9th day of September,1927.

CURTIS D. CHASE.

